STORY BY MATTHEW DENICOLA, STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARGERS ATHLETICS
The Cypress College men’s and women’s swim and dive teams are working hard to achieve their goals despite having a short staff roster. They consistently perform their duties and swim to earn reliable points without making excuses.
“We are having a strong season at this point. We have been improving to meet our expectations. We are a week out from the championship and are on the right track since the beginning of the season,” said Head Coach Frisk Driscoll.
The team placed sixth, fifth, 17th, sixth, and eighth, averaging eighth place overall in their last five matches. At the start of the season, Driscoll expressed the desire to finish fourth in the division, and thus far, they are close to meeting that expectation.
When asked about the meet at Cuesta College where they placed 17th, Driscoll used it as a learning experience for the team.
Driscoll mentions that annually, their team receives an invitation to a meet at Cuesta where they are exposed to diverse competition from across the state. This meet fosters team cohesion and serves as a valuable test of character, ensuring their athletes remain sincere, motivated, and aware of their competitive capabilities. They acknowledge being somewhat confined to California’s sphere but aspire to elevate their program statewide within a few years.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Driscoll notes a significant evolution among the first-year athletes.
Driscoll said “Our first years are doing alright. They took a while adjusting to the competition level but they started to figure out how to compete.” With each meet, everyone shows improvement, according to Driscoll.
Despite encountering busy weeks, the first-year athletes are grasping how to compete effectively and are steadily improving as they navigate through their challenges. For example, in their daily routine, they train and practice for every meet.
Observing the team dynamics, Driscoll reflects on the performance of both the women’s and men’s sides within the division.
Driscoll deems that their team is performing well within the division, particularly the women’s side, which is maintaining a strong performance. While the men could learn from the women’s approach, they are persevering despite facing lower-ranked conference schools.
Next up: The Cypress College Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams will compete at the Orange Coast College OEC meeting from Thursday, April 18th to 20th. The exact time is to be determined.
After the OEC meeting, which marks their last regular-season event, the teams will proceed to the playoffs from May 2nd to 4th at Orange Coast College for the 3C2A championship. The exact timing is yet to be determined.
